Using daytime running lights

I don't think that daytime running lights are as necessary here as they would be in europe or northern america.
In those places light can be marginal for much of the day for much of the year.

Like those fog lights that people like to run with their headlights, in this country I don't think they are a help for most of us most of the time.

As for this failure to be seen.......the europeans are pushing this one right across the board.

That is why every man and his dog is wearing High Visability clothing.

I think if large numbers of cars ran daytime running lights the safety effects would be deminished to the point of being pointless........like it is with High Vis clothing.

Not long ago, the only people who wore High vis clothing where those who where engaged in activities where there was clear risk involved and bright clothing helped with that risk.
Now we have a situation where High vis clothing is so common that it has become devalued...to the point where criminals wear it when they want to blend in.

Let me tell you some of the places I work, If I don't want to be noticed I wear High Vis...I become just another one of those yellow men.....we have done tests.....the management on these venuses know is well.....but if two of us walk along one in high vis and the other in plain clothes.....the one in plain clothes will get a smile and a wave the one in high vis will simply be ignored......and we have rung the changes to test this.


Not so long ago, if there was someone in a car park or on the road side in High Vis they where going something......like diging a hole...now it is more likley they are just taking the shopping to the car or walking home.

These people who say that there are accidents where not being seen was a contributing factor do not want to admit that the reason that what ever it was was not seen, most of the time is that the person at fault DID NOT LOOK....no amount of high vis or daytime running lights will solve that problem.


Just for thaught......all these extranius lights may in fact obscure things or be a distraction.

many years ago, I saw an exibit at a science museum that showed without a doubt that visability would be improved if we all turned our headlights OFF at night on well lit streets.......bet ya that never saw the light of day in the road safety press.

No we don't need yet another european nanny state idea.

cheers

I think DRLs are a great idea and do achieve what they are designed for.

ADRs require DRLs to switch off when headlights are turned on so, aftermarket fitments should comply with this - but of course we know many will not rig them as such and blind people at night.

In OEM fittings on vehicles that have combined DRLs and parkers you will see that when the headlights are turned on (or parkers switched on) the DRLs dim to parker brightness.

Garry

I feel (and do this myself always) driving with low beams on should be mandatory on highways when country driving.
You see a car approaching far better, and at much greater distance, than without lights on.

I think headlights at the normal height are better than DRLs as these are usually placed much lower and sometimes seen later than headlights.

Approaching (passing / overtaking) traffic and traffic turning out onto / off highways etc are the main situations that this would benefit.

In my opinion, there would be many less deaths each year if people used this common sense driving technique, far more lives would be saved as compared to most other GOVCO road safety focus.
Fatigue and inattention are the other issues that causes far more road deaths than say slight speed indiscretions when overtaking etc.

Driving with lights on around the suburbs is also highly recommended for the same reasons, but especially at dusk or in dismal weather.

You're probably right Slow One but before that's implemented I'd like to see self imploding fog lights, or perhaps a nasty in-cabin spray when fog lights are used in normal conditions - like the things they (used to?) put on dog collars to discourage barking. I don't know if it's a problem with the way vehicle manufacturers set up the lights in modern cars or just ignorance by drivers but the "wall of light" in suburban driving is becoming more and more prevalent.

Saw a bloke in dark gear crossing the road the other night. He had the silver reflective stripes on his dark pants and coat cuffs and wow did he light up when my headlights caught him. A very effective safety feature and quite unobtrusive in daylight.

I believe daytime running lights are a bit of a wank, at least for country driving, and they would achieve nothing to improve visibility.

Headlights on during the day however, is an entirely different thing.
Consider this. You are sitting behind a slower moving truck or vehicle towing a caravan and wish to safely pass it.
If approaching vehicles have their headlights on, it is much easier to pick them out in the distance and assist you in deciding if you have time to pass.
Also, as you pull out and accelerate past the slower vehicle, it is much easier for oncoming traffic to see you, if you have your headlights on.

This was proven to me, time and time again on our recent trip to the Kimberley.

"Daytime running lights", at least those poofy little rows of LED lights around the headlight glass, would give no such visibility assistance in this sort of case.

one thing with the daylight lighting, most motor bikes use them now.
They certainly make them more noticeable but on the other hand being only one light it is MUCH harder to judge how far away they are especially if on high beam and obscuring the actual bike.

In a word no.

I think everyone should travel with there lights on during the day either headlights or DRL's.

Over the years as my eyesight naturally degrades cars that I use to see kilometres away seem to blend in with the surroundings.

The distance we can see vehicles with there lights on in day time compared with no lights is 10 fold and I think many accidents could be avoided it they were seen earlier.

I think it's a no brainer and why would you not want to be seen...... many who don't like things like this are the ones who think their rights are being eroded away and hate getting told what they should;d and shouldn't do.

Maybe if they looked when travelling and noted the difference in viability and distance they can see other vehicles with lights on and lights off they might have a different view of the situation.

All new motorbikes since 2008/09 have had lights you can not turn off....... like the car people there was a big outcry of rights by motorbikes to a point there was protests where people rode with their lights blanked out with cardboard...... yes brain dead!

I always wondered what that lever was for.

I always thought that headlights were to be turned on when the street lights come on. I don't turn my lights on during the day for numerous reasons, one being my car does not have an alarm that goes off when the ignition is off and the lights are on. So to save me forgetting and coming back to a dead battery, the lights come on when I need them.

I have found that on those long booring straight bits up north that oncoming cars with lights on are easier to see at a medium to long distance. They are great for helping to determine if it is safe to pass or not.

My major issue is only a real minor issue in that once i turn on my headlights the stereo and indash Sat Nav dim, thats okay for night time driving where you dont want bright lights in front of you. But if it is a bright day the satnav and radio are hard to see the controls.

As i said its a minor issue

Alan

I am a big advocate for full time headlights. I have mine wired to the ignition (after many bush walks and returning to a dead battery). It's a case of self preservation. You can be bloody minded and refuse to accept that there ARE people driving whose eyesight whilst legally 20/20, with advancing age are finding some problems with contrast and definition, but if I can alert someone else to the fact that I am potentially in their line of travel due to them misjudging or not seeing me until it is too late, then it has been a worthwhile exercise.

I recently had a car following me for many kms, who had plenty of opportunities to overtake, before they finally pulled out and nearly collected an oncoming vehicle (who DIDN'T have headlights on). It could have been you ………

I notice that there are now more signs on the road suggesting you turn on your lights "and be seen".

I also find that you can see headlights through the bush on winding roads before you see the vehicle (who is usually travelling at breakneck speed for the conditions).

YOU might think you have great eyesight, but do you? Our hearing deteriorates over time, and it's only when someone asks why the volume is turned up so loud that we start to consider that maybe all is not what it once was. The same with eyesight.

Put the ego away, don't be bloody minded …… Turn on ya lights ……. :-)